The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Mota-Engil Africa, a leading construction and infrastructure company, have signed a landmark agreement for a €120 million Partial Credit Guarantee in Abidjan.
The guarantee, the Bank Group’s first direct support to an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) company in Africa, will back a €170 million Sustainability-Linked Loan arranged by Deutsche Bank AG. This financing will enable Mota-Engil Africa to strengthen its balance sheet, extend debt maturities, and deliver a pipeline of large-scale infrastructure projects across more than a dozen African countries.
The signing took place at AfDB headquarters with Pedro Oliveira Sá, Executive Director and CFO of Mota-Engil Africa, and Solomon Quaynor, AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, representing the two institutions. Representatives from Cygnum Capital and Deutsche Bank also attended the event in person and virtually.
The projects to be financed under this arrangement will include transport networks, water and sanitation systems, environmental services, and energy-efficient civil works, all aligned with sustainable development goals. The operation will be guided by Mota-Engil’s Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, which prioritizes health and safety, women’s leadership, local employment creation, and skills development.
Vice President Quaynor emphasized the Bank’s commitment, noting: “This signing represents a significant step forward in using guarantees to unlock affordable financing for Africa’s development. In partnership with Deutsche Bank, we are enabling Mota-Engil Africa to deliver sustainable infrastructure that drives inclusive growth, jobs, and resilience.”
Manuel Mota, Chairman of Mota-Engil Africa, called the agreement a defining moment: “The Partial Credit Guarantee is more than financial support—it reflects the AfDB’s confidence in our vision and commitment to accelerating infrastructure projects that transform connectivity, foster inclusive growth, and set new standards for sustainability.”
Deutsche Bank’s Maryam Khosrowshahi, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Coverage, added: “We are proud to support this landmark transaction, which will contribute to Africa’s long-term growth while driving measurable sustainability outcomes.”
Cygnum Capital acted as financial adviser to Mota-Engil, while Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, and Vieira de Almeida provided legal counsel to the AfDB, Deutsche Bank, and Mota-Engil respectively.
This transaction directly supports the AfDB’s High 5 priorities, especially “Industrialize Africa” and “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa,” and aligns with its Ten-Year Strategy of advancing inclusive green growth and resilient economies.
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